Barbra Allen

Cat. #0492 (MFH #38) - As sung by Lee Pompey, Springfield, Missouri on May 22, 1960

VERSE 1
In a scarlet town, where I was borned
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made every youth, cry well away
An' 'er name was Barbry Ellen

VERSE 2
He sent his servant to the town
To th place where she was dwellin'
Saying, you must come to my master dear
If your name be Barbry Ellen

VERSE 3
Slowli, slowli, she got up
And slowli she came nigh him
But the only thing she said to him
Young man I think your diein'

VERSE 4
O, I am sick an' very sick
An' death is on me dwellin'
No better, no better, I never will be
If I don't get Barbry Ellen

VERSE 5
O yes, your sick an' very sick
An death is in your dwellin'
No better, no better, you never will be
If you don't get Barbry Ellen

VERSE 6
Do you remember last Saturday night
In th town where we were dwellin'
You drank your health to th ladies all around
But you slighted Barbry Ellen

VERSE 7
O yes, I remember last Saturday night
In th town where we were dwellin'
I drank my health to th ladies all around
But my love to Barbry Ellen

VERSE 8
He turned his pale face to th wall
He turned his back, upon her
Adieu, adieu, my good friends all
An' adieu to Barbry Ellen

VERSE 9
As she was walikng through th fields
She heard th death bells knell'n
An' every knell did seem to say
Hard hearted Barbry Ellen

VERSE 10
As she was walking through th fields
She heard th birds a singin'
An' every bird did seem to say
Hard hearted Barbry Ellen

VERSE 11
She looked to the east, she looked t' th west
She saw th cold corpse comin'
Lay down, lay down, that corpse of clay
That I may look upon 'im

VERSE 12
O Mother, dear Mother, go make my bed
Go make it long an' narrow
Sweet William died for pure, pure love
An' I will die for sorrow

VERSE 13
O Father, o Father, go dig my grave
Go dig it long an' narrow
Sweet William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow

VERSE 14
Sweet William was buried in one church yard
An' Barbry in another
Out'a Williams grave grew a red, red rose
Out'a Barbrys grave a green brier

VERSE 15
They climbed and climbed t' th steeple top
Till they could climb no higher
They wrapped an' twined in a true loves knot
Th red rose around th brier

Variants